Julie Schwietert Collazo—Immigrant Families Together

06/28/19 • 60 min

Julie Schwietert Collazo is the co-founder and director of Immigrant Families Together (IFT), an organization founded in response to the zero tolerance immigration policy initiated in 2018 that has resulted in the separation of thousands of immigrant parents and their children at the U.S./Mexico border. She brings her background as a bilingual journalist and former social worker to bear on her work with IFT, which raised more than a million dollars in just over six months, posting bond for more than 73 detained parents, grandparents, and older siblings who were separated from children. The ongoing work of IFT involves providing support to these families— housing, legal counsel, medical/dental/mental health care, and other necessities— as they proceed with their immigration cases. She is currently writing a book with one of the mothers affected by the zero tolerance policy. The book will be published in English and Spanish editions by HarperOne.

Mentioned in the episode:

The first mom bonded out Yeni González.

Art installations of bronzed baby shoes in Oregon and of audio projected from chainlink cages in **New York City (#nokidsincages) **in response to family separation and kids held in detention camps.

Julie Schwietert Collazo: Woman of Distinction and honor for Women’s History Month.

“Why Are Separated Families Told They Must Use a Tiny Georgia Travel Agency to Reunite?” in the Texas Monthly by Katy Vine

**“‘An Angel From God,’ and Border Agents Took Her: Trump’s cruel separation of immigrant families continued after he declared he was ending the practice.” **in The New York Times by Nicholas Kristof

TIffany Cabán, expected winner of the primary for District Attorney in Queens, NY

Kristen Bell

Mentioned in the episode:

The first mom bonded out Yeni González.

Julie Schwietert Collazo: Woman of Distinction and honor for Women’s History Month.

“Why Are Separated Families Told They Must Use a Tiny Georgia Travel Agency to Reunite?” in the Texas Monthly by Katy Vine

TIffany Cabán, expected winner of the primary for District Attorney in Queens, NY

Kristen Bell

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Amy Irvin—Abortion Access, Reproductive Justice, & Story Sharing to End Stigma

Amy Irvin is the executive director of the New Orleans Abortion Fund and served as the first intake coordinator. She has worked at abortion clinics in New Orleans and Atlanta, and was recognized as the Volunteer of the Year by Planned Parenthood of Kentucky in 2006. She earned her Master of Science in Social Work at the University of Louisville where she researched the impact of parental consent laws for minors at the ACLU of Kentucky Reproductive Freedom Project, and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Agnes Scott College. After undergraduate school she taught English as a Second Language, coordinated World Refugee Day activities, and developed a refugee childcare program at the International Rescue Committee. She's also a former union organizer with the United Food and Commercial Workers, organizing grocery store workers in Arizona and Indiana.

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Sonya Passi—FreeFrom Violence, Freedom to Thrive

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Jillian Bessett: The voice in the intro and outro belong to songwriter Jillian Bessett. Jillian Bessett is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose evocative lyrics and welcoming stage presence have endeared her to audiences throughout the southwest music scene. Jillian is currently writing music and gigging with her new favorite instrument the Boss RC-505 Looping Station.

Mentioned in the Episode:

The Survivor Wealth Summit (to be held July 24-25, 2019) is a groundbreaking two-day summit to explore the concept of survivor wealth and develop a deeper understanding of financial trauma and healing. Attendees will build new skills and tools to support your own financial security as well as that of your clients and the gender-based violence movement as a whole.

Amnesty International works both at home and abroad to tackle the most pressing human rights violations.

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